UK Implements New Visa Regulations for Care Workers, Increases Salary Threshold to N50m
The UK Government has announced new visa rules affecting care providers, foreign workers, and students as part of efforts to reduce immigration and prioritize local hiring.
Starting April 9, care providers looking to employ staff from overseas must first show proof that they have attempted to recruit foreign workers already living in England who need new visa sponsorship, according to measures presented in Parliament on Wednesday.
The Home Office explained that these policy changes are designed to decrease reliance on international recruitment while ensuring fair job opportunities for care workers already present in the UK.
The minimum salary requirement for Skilled Worker visas will also rise from £23,200 to £25,000 per year (or £12.82 per hour) to reflect the increasing minimum wage.
Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, acknowledged the essential contributions of international care workers in supporting vulnerable individuals across the country.
“As we crack down on rogue operators exploiting overseas workers, we must also ensure victims of exploitation can rebuild their careers in adult social care,” he said.
He stressed that giving preference to care workers already residing in the UK would help reduce dependency on foreign recruitment while reinforcing the workforce within the sector.
The Government is also imposing stricter rules on short-term student visas due to concerns over potential abuse of the system.
Foreign nationals enrolled in English language courses in the UK for six to 11 months are eligible for this visa, but officials have raised issues regarding applicants who may not genuinely intend to study or leave the country after completing their courses.
The Home Office will grant caseworkers broader authority to reject visa applications that appear suspicious as part of efforts to prevent misuse of this pathway.
These policy adjustments align with intensified enforcement actions against businesses that violate immigration laws.
Between July 2022 and December 2024, the Government revoked more than 470 sponsor licenses in the care industry due to repeated infractions. Companies failing to adhere to immigration regulations now risk being barred from hiring foreign workers.
Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra, reaffirmed the Government’s dedication to safeguarding international workers from exploitation.
“We have already taken action to ensure employers cannot flout the rules or unfairly pass costs onto international workers,” she said.
“Now, we are going further by requiring care providers to prioritize hiring international workers already in the UK before recruiting from abroad.”
Recent statistics reveal a significant decline in visa applications following the new restrictions.
Between April and December 2024, the UK received 547,000 applications for work and study visas—a 42% decrease compared to 942,500 applications in the same period in 2023.
Applications for health and care worker visas experienced the most substantial drop, falling by 79% from 299,800 in 2023 to just 63,800 in 2024.
